Alaska Army National Guard (AKARNG) CH-47F Chinook helicopter aircrew, assigned to Detachment 1, B Company, 2-211th General Support Aviation Battalion, and Alaska Air National Guard (AKANG) C-17 Globemaster III aircrew, assigned to the 144th Airlift Squadron, 176th Wing, conduct recovery missions out of Bethel, Alaska, Oct. 17, 2025.
The Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management continues to work with the Alaska Organized Militia and the U.S. Coast Guard as recovery operations continue due to Typhoon Halong.
Alaska National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Joseph Moon.
BETHEL, Alaska — Snow moved into western Alaska early Oct. 22, 2025, bringing new challenges to Alaska Organized Militia (AKOM) during Operation Halong Response. Despite the conditions, AKOM aircrews remain steadfast in their mission to assist fellow Alaskans.
Aviation crews are monitoring weather conditions closely to determine when it will be safe to resume flying teams to outlying villages. Task Force Bethel rescue helicopters require a minimum ceiling of 750 feet and two miles of visibility before takeoff.
“Right now, we’re sitting at about 500 feet and one mile visibility,” said Capt. Cody McKinney, Army aviation coordinator with Task Force Bethel. “Safety is our primary concern.”
As weather set in, Task Force Bethel teams coordinated with the Alaska Division of Forestry to travel by boat to nearby villages to continue debris removal, perform general labor, and conduct damage assessments while aircraft remain grounded. Alaska National Guard aviation crews remain ready to launch when weather allows.
“Alaska weather always tests our operations, but it doesn’t slow us down,” said Lt. Col. Daniel White, Task Force Bethel operations coordinator. “We continue to prepare, and when the weather breaks — we’re ready to load and go.”
Cooperation between AKOM and state agencies is allowing recovery efforts to safely continue. Transportation with the Alaska Division of Forestry allowed teams to conduct damage assessments and continue debris removal in affected communities. The National Weather Service reports a continued chance of snow over the next several days, with winds between 15 and 20 mph.
Even as winter sets in, AKOM missions continue assisting communities until recovery is complete.
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